Saigon in the 1960s was the capital of America’s global proxy war to counter the ‘domino effect’ of spreading communism, the focal point of the battle between ideologies. Most of the fighting, however, took place in rural villages throughout central Vietnam.
In Saigon, life went on much the same as it had for years — except with more American soldiers around. The motorbikes are older, and nobody’s wearing helmets, but much of the street life in Saigon looked the same back in the 1960s as it does today: Tall trees, ‘Ao Dai’ dresses, conical hats, and cyclos.
These fascinating color photos were taken by photographer Wilbur E. Garrett that show everyday life of Saigon in 1961 and 1965.
Saigon. Male patrons of a sidewalk cafe check out women pedestrians, 1961
Saigon. Rows of bicycles clutter a downtown parking area, 1965
Saigon. An umbrellalike poetry inscribed ‘non la’, or hat, shades a girl’s face, 1961
Saigon. A woman ties down her ‘Ao dai’ while riding her bicycle, 1965
Saigon. A band entertains in a makeshift nightclub, 1965
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